A histological study of the gonads of T16H/XSxr hermaphrodite mice.

A proportion of mice with the genotype T16H/XSxr develop as hermaphrodites (Ward et al. 1987). In this study, histological sections were prepared of the gonads and reproductive tract from a number of such animals. Examination of the sections showed a wide range of development. The most common types of gonad found were sterile testes resembling those found in XXSxr males and apparently normal ovaries. However, between these two extremes were some gonads which were classified as ovotestes. These ovotestes covered such a range of sexual development that they were for convenience divided into two groups. Type I ovotestes were similar in appearance to the Sxr-type testes with the exception that oocytes surrounded by granulosa-like cells were present in some seminiferous tubules. Also, many tubules had shed their Sertoli cell lining. The structure of Type II ovotestes was even more bizarre; regions of both testicular and ovarian somatic tissue and widespread areas of haemorrhage were seen. In general, the histological structure of the reproductive ducts approached the normal pattern. The epididymal ducts were small and haemorrhage was present in some epididymides associated with the Type II ovotestes.